Playing at an online casino is a risky endeavour for both the players and the establishments. There is lot of risk involved in how the establishments will protect their financial interests. You don’t want to get broke in trying to pay all the players who have won at their casinos.
There is a lot of bonus abuse going on, where the players avail the bonuses and promotional offers, by just registering at the online casinos. Once the free casino money is finished, they will run through the door; with the wins obtained from the bonuses.
This is a big loss for the casinos, which are not in the business of doling out free money. To recoup their investments, they have legal support in the form of terms and conditions. The terms and conditions are valid and are a legal binding between the player and the casino.
Agreeing to the terms and conditions
The fact that you are agreeing to the terms and conditions; is the first step for allowing you to play at any online or mobile casino. You will not be allowed to play at these sites without agreeing to the T&C’s.
In case of any disputes or claims, you cannot support your argument by saying that you have not agreed to the T&Cs. By agreeing to the T&C’s you are waiving your right to privacy, data protection, fund protection and other important aspects.
Often enough, there is a clause which states that you must periodically review the T&C’s. They are subject to the changes as and when, it is necessary by the casinos. So it is vital for the players to keep track of any of the changes that are made.
Usually casinos will send out email or other notifications for the benefit of the players about the changes that are made to the terms and conditions. The onus is on the players, to regularly read the T&C’s. Any changes in the bonus policies, wagering requirements, new features, laws and rules are made with the casinos interest in mind.
Privacy / Data / Fund Protection
The online casinos are running a business with the intention of making money. As in any business, they are guided by law to safeguard the player’s money, personal details and other information from third party activities.
A basic point mentioned in the T&C’s is the use of the player’s pictures in advertisements and other promotional events when they have won a jackpot.
Another interesting point in the T&C’s is the fund protection that is assured to the players. It is a vital point in the event that the online casino closes shop. With all your money parked in the casinos; the reimbursement of the money to the players in case of any fateful event is a based as per the T&C’s mentioned by the casinos.
The level of fund protection that is guaranteed to the players is Basic (where the bank account is part of the casinos assets), Medium (where the player’s money is kept in a separate account which is independent of the operations of the casinos. It is given back in case of any bankruptcy) and High (The account is independently audited and offers the highest protection to the players).
Country Specific Jurisdictions
The huge global market for online casino gambling is the result of Internet boom. The improvement in the technology has given the remote player instant access to the online casinos. There is a lot of confusion related to the legality of online gambling in many countries.
The onus is on the players to confirm whether it is legal to play in their countries. The terms and conditions can vary according to the country from where the player is playing. It is in accordance with the rules and regulations of that country.
There are some countries where players have been known to commit bonus abuse. The T&C’s usually mention these countries and have separate rules for dealing with them. Either it totally bars those players or allows them to play with the wins being subjected to high wagering requirements.
Wagering Requirements, Bonuses and Promotions
The casinos have the right to make any changes related to the wagering requirements, bonuses and promotions. Any changes to these are widely publicised and displayed in the casino’s website. In spite of this, in case of any confusion; the players are required to contact the customer support team and get it cleared as soon as possible.
These changes are also reflected in the online casinos bonus policies which are updated regularly in accordance to the changing economic scenarios.
Casino Players Account Activities
The terms and conditions clearly specifies on how and when the player’s account can be closed or suspended. They can do this without giving them any reasons. This could be due to any number of issues such as dormant accounts or suspecting of frauds. Another reason for the casinos to close your account is failure to provide valid and correct details or information. It can be because of problems related to age verification, address proof or correct bank account details etc. All of these can create problem with payouts of your winnings.
These are some of the common terms and conditions that the players must take care of; before playing at the online casinos. Understanding them is vital to making the player experience a less stressful one. The online casinos have the final say in matters related to the terms and conditions.
If you don’t agree to these terms and conditions; you can just shift over to a new casino. The important thing to understand is that you are under no obligation to play here. If you don’t like it, leave it. Always read them before signing up at any online casino. It’s better to be safe than sorry later.
